Best of The Gazette, Dec. 24: Fraud, film and an army of Grinches

Jodi Millis, an avid Grinch collector, decks out her office in the Rock County Courthouse in Grinch memorabilia all year long. She has been collecting for more than 20 years.

The Gazette publishes a lot of news in a week. Combine that with all the distractions a weekend brings, and that means there's a good chance you might have missed some important stories. Here's a look at of some of The Gazette's best content from the last week or so:

Target said Thursday that about 40 million credit and debit card accounts might be affected by a data breach for customers who swiped their cards at Target stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. Consumer advocacy and financial experts say customers worried that their credit or debit card information has fallen into the wrong hands should pay close attention to their monthly financial statements, among other suggestions.

In the depths of the Rock County Courthouse, past the vending machines and vaults, lives a creature—actually, several—who hates Christmas a lot. In the purchasing office he lurks on the walls, he covers the billboards, the shelves and the floor, he's the Grinch who stole Christmas, a guy Jodi Millis adores.

Whitewater guard Brooke Trewyn has her name all over the Whippets record books, but she wants to help lead the team to the state tournament. The team has never reached that goal. With the all-everything Trewyn leading the way, this could be the season the Whippets finally punch their ticket.

There is no way to tell 10 inches of good ice from 1/10 inch from shore with binoculars. This is where the old adage about fools walking where angels fear to tread screams scary and appropriate overtones, sports columnist Ted Peck writes.

In most cases, readers don't consciously notice how a newspaper page is arranged. In the end, though, a good page design makes a difference in how people read a page and how much they take from it, Gazette Editor Scott Angus writes.

Leaders of local service clubs sound hopeful about the clubs' futures, but maintaining membership is a constant struggle for most of them. We live in a mobile society, where families are less likely to put down roots than in decades past. Yet these clubs still have much to offer to their communities—and their members, The Gazette Editorial Board writes.

Though the curtain hasn't risen yet on the 2014 Beloit International Film Festival, it's safe to say big changes are waiting offstage. The event officially opens Feb. 14 in Beloit, but much is happening before then—especially in Janesville. Here are 10 new things to know about the film fest.

Ha Long Bay Restaurant is thriving after five years on Williamson Street. The kitchen continues to turn out delectable plates of Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian food, all of which awaken the senses and are well suited to warm hibernating palates, restaurant reviewer Bill Livick writes.